Canon EOS 400D digital SLR
New to digital SLRs? This could be just the camera you need
Review DSLRs were once the province of the professional, with prices to match. But the cost has fallen, so for roughly twice the price of a mid-spec compact you can now pick up a decent digital SLR.
A camera like the Canon EOS 400D for example. The EOS 400D has been around for quite a while now and Canon has since launched the EOS 450D. But the EOS 400D remains in the Canon range and what’s more, is the sort of camera a beginner to DSLR photography should have on their list of potential purchases.
Canon's EOS 400D: compatible with more than 60 EF and EF-S lenses
As far as DSLRs go, the EOS 400D is fairly compact. No, you wouldn’t want to try and squeeze it in your coat pocket, but you’d have no trouble storing it in a smallish bag; measuring 126.5 x 94.2 x 65mm and weighing 510g without lens. The camera comes with an EF-S18-55mm f.3.5-5.6 lens and Canon says the EOS 400D is compatible with more than 60 EF and EF-S lenses.
In terms of controls, the top of the EOS 400D has a shutter button, close to which is a small dial that is used for adjusting various parameters, such as shutter speed and aperture (its mode of operation depends on what camera mode you’ve selected). On top is a pop-up flash and large control dial, which Canon divides into two groups: the Basic Zone offers a range of auto features: full auto function, portrait, landscape, macro, sports, portrait and flash disable.
COMMENTS
Oooooh
I can read the car numberplate in those photos. I thought by law you now had to blank out anything that might be used by a terrorist or paedophile to track down small children, plant bombs, etc, which car numberplates clearly do. Or is it can - kind of lost track of the grammar there.
Agree with those not seeing the point of this review
I understand that it's still a 'current' model, in that they have not yet stopped selling it - but you use that as justification for the review in the first place, and then give it a 75% score!
If you're going to review it as 'older tech' then the score should reflect the rest of its field, and not show how it compares against the newer models. Hell, even comparing it against the 450D and you would expect it to come a pretty poor second.
On top of that, the reviewer does not seem that comfortable writing the review, as he does not seem familiar with the subject. But this is The Register, not DP Review - everyone who knows anything about digital cameras has already read the review (and that for the 450D) on DP Review anyway. So we would be expecting The Register to be taking the review from a different 'angle', and unfortunately they don't. It's a re-hash of some technical specs and some uninformed comment (as seen by the other comments in here).
Reviews like this, we can frankly do without.
@Mike, plus bits.
If thje Register is going to feature more camera reviews... let's get some skilled reviewers, eh?
"You can get some very nice close-up shots with the EOS 400D"
Yes. Being a DSLR, if you spent enough on lenses, you can get some nice far away ones, too. And indeed, better ones than the examples given here.
I know that the camera reviews are as much about advertising as they are about providing new content for your readers, but surely the revenues are worth actually employing some skilled writers in the field? There are plenty out there. Your buying guides around Christmas totally ignored the existence of the Sony Alpha range (which has built-in stabilisation), you're very unlikely to cover the technically interesting Sigma DP-1 large-sensor compact... and I really suspect the subtleties of the 4/3rd system will be lost on your reviewers, so don't expect anything from Olympus/Samsung/Leica/Panasonic etc. to be covered well, unless it's a P&S.
Mike: I use an SD10 and SD14 as well, and DP-1 - Foveon image quality is stunning. I also have a D3, which really emphasises just how far into professional territory I had to go to add capability to my kit. It's not that the other DSLRs aren 'as good' as the SD14, it's more that it's all about trading capability; resolution for colour accuracy/texture/sharpness/build/handling all the way along.
What rubbish, why not review an old Athlon Barton CPU?
This is the worst technical review I've ever EVER come across.
Of course there are now some better cameras on the market......there are newer cameras out, including the 450D successor as you point out yourself!!!
To give a highly regarded camera such a low score is pathetic, and a shame for any readers who don't know any better, as it might lead them to avoid the entire Canon line of cameras, which has consistently been the best for reliable image quality in all major categories for years, as proven by its sales and numerous positive reviews.
Ultra portable = IXUS range
Small = G Series
SLRs basic 450D type, advanced: 40D type, professional: 1 series
Admittedly the competition is picking up, especially from Nikon but this is an unfair and pointless review.
The Athlon Barton processor was excellent in its day but of course is not as fast as a Core 2 Duo. Why don't you review one, and give it a 10% score?
Grip too small?
Get the screw in battery grip, the BG-E3 - used a mates 400D with one and it turns it from feeling like a 'hobby' camera [in terms of feel, rather than feature-set] into something more substantial - much easier to hold it steady with a big lens in [like the Sigma 70-200 F2.8, which is fantastic].
The other option, of course, is to buy an EOS 1D MkII, but for that sort of money, I'd rather have a used Impreza STi, and take pics of it on track and autocross days with the cheapo 300D.
Oh, and if anyone has an EF-mount DSLR [300/350/400/5/10/30D etc] then do yourself a favour and have a look at the 50mm F1.8 Canon lens [which is light and a bit cheap feeling but takes great pictures for the low, low price] and the Tamron 28-75 DR XG GTi SR WRX STi Evo Tommy Makkinen Edition F2.8 - that's a really good lens for walking about and just grabbing stuff at random.
Hmm, cars, computers and cameras. I think I have discovered the Elixer of Geek :-)
Steven "Needs to get a-3 diopeter adustment thingy" Raith
